APEX Wheels 2015-2022 Ford Mustang S550 18×10″ ET40 Satin Bronze EC-7 Wheel

Fit Matters

The EC-7 wheel includes details specifically implemented to enhance the Mustang owners’ track day and street performance experience. An optimized car setup begins with the right wheel and tire fitment, and without model-specific attention, maximum performance is compromised. These wheels were developed exclusively for S197 and S550 chassis and will work in either square or staggered applications. Most fitments are direct bolt-on solutions, however aggressive square fitments utilizing the 18×11” EC-7 wheels will require spacers on the front axle for proper inner strut clearance. This is not a compromised fitment, it is the only way to outfit an S197 or S550 chassis with the highly desirable true-rotatable 11” square fitment.

Simply put, the APEX wheel was designed for long-term durability without sacrificing performance and fit, while also adhering to APEX’s mission of maximizing value. Corner carving & track enthusiasts: this is your wheel.

Face Profile

The EC-7 wheel is manufactured in three increasingly-concave face profiles; The shallowest face provides increased caliper clearance on narrow applications, while the deepest concave face reduces weight and creates a stunningly aggressive appearance on low offset and wide-width applications. This Mustang application utilizes APEX’s medium profile for the best balance between caliper clearance, concavity, and weight.

Spokes

The curved spokes of the EC-7 serve many purposes, both in terms of form and function. The split “Y” spokes were carefully evaluated from every aspect to ensure lightweight and remarkable strength. Their curved design increases brake calipers in almost every application, allowing the EC-7 to fit where the ARC-8 design simply cannot. The unique curvature of each face profile reduces center pad material as they are optimally selected for each unique width and offset. The lack of a deep front lip and spokes that connect directly to the barrel’s lip, produces a rigid wheel with even load distribution.

Brake Clearance – Spokes

If the spokes of a wheel don’t clear your brake calipers, then the wheel can’t be used at all. APEX made sure these wheels offer ample brake clearance, effectively clearing a variety of aftermarket BBK’s as well as popular factory BBKs like the S197 14” and 15” GT500 Brembo BBK’s, as well as the S550 Performance Package Brembo BBK. The S550 GT350 would require APEX’s 19” EC-7.

Brake Clearance – Barrel

Designing a wheel with spokes that clear a Big Brake Kit, is only half of the battle. The inside of the barrel needs to be large enough to physically fit large calipers and rotors. Be warned— not all wheels are made equal. The barrel of the EC-7 wheel offers unmatched caliper clearance because wheels shouldn’t limit your choice of aftermarket brake kits, and brake kits shouldn’t force you to run oversized wheels. APEX’s 2D modeled most Big Brake Kits available in Solidworks and tweaked the wheel design of the EC-7 prior to production in order to fit as many kits as possible. Contact us to confirm brake clearances for your specific application.

Hub Center

Race wheels can’t just be light, they need to function in a high-performance environment. Unlike the narrow lug recesses of most other wheels, the EC-7 wheel features bored-out lug recesses that easily accommodate oversized race lugs and beefy impact sockets. This allows for quick and easy wheel changes and prevents chips and scratches from tools.

Hub Centric

All APEX EC-7 wheels are purpose-built for select vehicle applications, and centering rings are never required for any Mustang S197 or S550 application. All 5×114.3mm bolt pattern wheels feature a direct-fit, 70.5mm center bore.

Center Cap

APEX doesn’t reuse one cap design for all of APEX’s wheels. Every EC-7 wheel is designed to work with factory center caps. You can easily replace APEX center caps with OEM Ford center caps for a clean factory look. The EC-7 wheels will ship with APEX’s Gloss Black center cap that mimics the size and shape of a Ford factory center cap.

For OEM Center Cap fitment information, please contact us.

Wheel Hardware

The EC-7 wheel can be used with all OEM and aftermarket mounting hardware with a 60° tapered seat. Lug bolts, wheel locks, and stud conversion kits all work perfectly. The EC-7 wheel also accepts wheel spacers without issue. The shallow rear chamfer allows the wheel to remain hub centric even when 5mm flat spacers are used. The chamfer is deep enough to clear the chamfered lip found on some aftermarket spacers that would typically cause improper seating of the wheel and, therefore, wheel vibration.

Flow Forming
Benefits of forging, without the pain

These APEX wheels are produced using a manufacturing process known as flow forming. This process significantly reduces weight in the barrel, which has the greatest impact on rotational mass. During the manufacturing process, rollers apply high pressure to the inner barrel, compressing the aluminum into its final shape. This effectively eliminates porosity and aligns the grain structure of the metal, which increases tensile strength. The end result is a lightweight and extremely strong barrel that equals that of a traditional forged wheel at a fraction of the cost.

Testing & Certifications

Many companies promote their wheels as being certified by the VIA when they actually aren’t. That’s like using the USDA logo on food without permission. APEX wheels get officially tested and registered by the VIA in Japan, and APEX has the proof to back it up.

Japan’s JWL is a commonly followed standard for wheel load ratings. APEX’s flow-formed wheels meet, and most exceed their load rating requirements. Most manufacturers only meet the minimum while some don’t even do that. Check and verify load ratings before you buy.

Weight & Strength Optimization

Various design features were implemented to ensure that the EC-7 wheel design was light, but had even more strength to handle the abuses experienced in endurance racing. APEX began with a beefy, multi-spoke, one-piece design. APEX added reliefs in the mounting pad to remove weight between lug holes, where we could safely save weight. The design was then run through Finite Element Analysis (FEA) to further optimize the spoke and barrel design. The result is a lightweight wheel with extra strength in all the right places. Use the EC-7 with confidence. It’s overbuilt for both street and track.

Finishes

The EC-7 wheel is available in multiple finishes. All APEX wheels are finished using a comprehensive multi-stage liquid paint system over a powder-coated base coat. Standard finishes include gloss metallic finishes and semi-gloss or matte finishes.

Often overlooked, painted or powder coated lug hole seats can cause hardware to loosen or begin the spread of paint chipping to more visible sections. The coating process of the EC-7 leaves lugs holes, center bores, and mounting pads untouched, which ensures proper fit and torque values.

Lifetime Warranty

As of recent, all APEX’s wheels now come with a lifetime structural warranty and 1 year finish warranty, so you can be confident in your purchase.